Swinging arm type stretch and wipe forming machine



SWINGING ARM TYPE STRETCH AND WIPE FORMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1958May 15, 1962 P. P. MATTHEWS 4 Sheets-Sheet l 3nnentor attorney y 1962 P.P. MATTHEWS 3,034,560

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Q 0K 3 km United States Patent 3,034,560 SWINGING ARM TYPE STRETCH ANDWIPE FORMING MACHBIE Peter P. Matthews, Willoughby, Ohio, assignor toThe Cyril Bath Company, Solon, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug.29, 1958, Ser. No. 757,973 4 Claims. (Cl. 153-32) This invention relatesto a combined stretch and wipe forming machine, and particularly to astretch and wipe forming machine, of the type in which a side face dieis mounted on a stationary die support and suitable stretch forming andwipe forming devices are mounted on arms which swing about thestationary die support for the purpose of concurrently stretch formingand wipe forming the stock onto the die.

For the purposes of illustration, the invention is shown embodied in acombined stretch and wipe forming machine employing a stationary diesupport, a pair of stretching arms which swing about the support andcarry stretch forming piston and cylinder assemblages, and a third armwhich swings about the support and carries a wipe forming piston andcylinder assemblage.

Heretofore, in machines of this general character, one problem has beento provide a simple and efficient drive for the stretching arms.

An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement ofstretching arms and driving mechanism by which the arms can be swungreadily about the die support at accurately controlled speeds, either inunison or individually, and at the same or different, constant orvariable, speeds, regardless of the angular position of the arms aboutthe support.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which the stretching armscan be swung from a position wherein they are 160 apart and each is 10?in front of a plane through their axis, to a position in which each isat 90 to the plane at the rear thereof, whereby the two arms togethercan swing through a combined wrapping angle of 200 about the die.

Another object is to mount the wipe forming arm and the wipe formingassemblage carried thereby in such manner that the reactance stressesimposed by the assemblage during wipe forming are resisted in a mannerwhich prevents displacement of the assemblage and flexure of the armsdue to elastic deformation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of my invention wherein referenceis made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a right end elevation of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1,but with the stretch arms shown in the position indicated by thedot-dash lines in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a fragmentary, enlarged, top plan view and sideelevation, respectively, of the wipe forming assembly; Y

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary left end elevation of the structure illustratedin FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 6 and- 7 are hydraulic circuit diagrams illustrating the controlsfor the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a base or frame 1 onwhich is supported a horizontal die support 2 which is arranged forsupporting a side face die D in fixed position with its forming facegenerally upright.

Mounted on the frame 1, for swinging movement about an upright axis, arestretching arms 3 and 4 which are arranged to support stretch formingreversible hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblages. The arms 3 and 4are mounted on a common upright pivot post 5 which'extends 3,034,560Patented May 15, 1962 from the bottom of the frame to the support 2 andis rigidly secured at its ends in nonrotative position relative to theframe and support, respectively. Since the arms 3 and 4 are alike instructure, being symmetrically arranged, the arm 3 only will bedescribed in detail.

The arm 3 is provided at its inner end with a rigid yoke portion,including upper and lower yoke arm portions 3a and 3b which are inpivotal engagement with the pivot post 5 and thereby support the arm '3in horizontal position for swinging about the axis of the post 5.Mounted on the arm 3 is a suitable rack 7 which is movablbelongitudinally of the arm. At the face of the rack facing inwardlytoward the pivot, the rack is provided with teeth for engaging asuitable gear. The rack 7 is constrained to fixed position transverselyof the arm 3 by a suitable plate 9 which is secured to the yoke armportion 312 and is positioned outwardly at the face of the rack 7opposite from the teeth. The rack 7 is constrained to movementlongitudinally of the arm 3 by the plate 9 and piston of the assemblagenow to be described.

Mounted on the arm 3 is a reversible hydraulic piston and cylinderassemblage 10 having a cylinder 11, a piston 12, and a piston rod 13.The piston rod 13 is fixedly connected to the rack 7 for driving therack in opposite directions, selectively.

Mounted in fixed non-rotative position on the pivot post 5 is a suitablegear 14 which is disposed between the yoke arm portions 3a and 3b of thearm 3 and which is in driving engagement with the rack 7.

Slidably mounted on the top of the arm 3 is a saddle 15 which may bemoved to different positions along the arm and fixedly secured in theselected positions. Mounted on the saddle are a pair of upright spacedarms 16 which are bridged at the top by a suitable tie plate 17, thusdefining with the saddle an O-frame which opens endwise of the arm 3.Supported in the O-frame is a suitable reversible, stretch forming,hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblage 18, comprising a cylinder 19, apiston 20, and a piston rod 21. A stretch head 22, which is arranged forgripping of an end of a length of stock for imparting a tension theretoby means of the piston and cylinder assemblage 18, is connected to thepiston rod. The assemblage 18 is secured to the frame of the saddle forswinging about an upright axis by means of trunnions 23 and 24 which aremounted in suitable slide blocks 25 and 26, the slide blocks beingmounted for guided vertical movement in the O-frame of the saddle 15. Asuitable reversible piston and cylinder assemblage 28 is connected tothe blocks 25 and 26 for moving the piston and cylinder assemblage 18 todifierent vertically adjusted positions for obtaining the benefits setforth in United States Letters patent of Cyril J. Bath, No. 2,713,376,issued July 19, 1955.

The mounting of the piston and cylinder assemblage 18 is such that theassemblage can swing through an arc of about 25 in each direction aboutits upright pivotal axis or trunnions 23 and 24 from the longitudinalcenter line of the arm 3.

The arm 4 carries corresponding equipment and is in all respects thesame as the arm 3 and is connected to the post 5 by means of suitableyoke arm portions 4a and 4b.

The assemblages 10, as well as the assemblages 18, preferably arereversible hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblages and can be locked,if desired, in predetermined extended and retracted positions.

The arms 3 and 4 thus have a common pivot about which they can be swungindividually or in unison by operation of their racks 7.

Mounted on the frame 1 for rotation about an axis or pivot coaxial withthe swinging axis of the arms 3 and 4 is a wipe forming arm 30. In theform illustrated, a

' suitable bracket 31 is secured in fixed position on the frame abovethe die support and the arm is pivotally secured thereto by means of apivot 33 coaxial with the pivot post 5. A slide box 34 is mounted on thearm 30 and may be moved to different selected positions longitudinallyof the arm and secured in the desired selected positions thereon. Theslide box 34 carries therebeneath a block 35 which is arranged toreceive a pivot for rockably supporting a wipe forming piston andcylinder assemblage 36. The wipe forming piston and cylinder assemblage36 includes a cylinder 37 having a piston therein and a piston rod 38,the end of which is connected to a wipe forming shoe 39.

For the supporting assemblage, a downwardly open saddle block 40 isprovided, the saddle having a tunnel therethrough extending coaxial withthe piston or assemblage. The cylinder 36 is secured to the saddle block40 in fixed position, The saddle block 40 is secured to the block 35 bymeans of a suitable vertical pivot 43 which extends upwardly through theblock 35 and is secured in place by means of a suitable plate 44. Theplate 44 is secured to the top of the pivot 43 for rotation therewith,and bears against the upper surface of the block 35.

For purposesof resisting lateral fiexure of the piston rod 38 by thewipe forming shoe, the saddle block 40 is provided with suitableguideways or holes through which extend guide rods 45, arranged one ateach side of the axis of the piston and cylinder assemblage. The rods 45are attached to the head 39. For purposes set forth in United StatesLetters Patent of Dolney and Hein, No. 2,810,421, issued October 22,1957, it is desirable to provide for some rocking movement of thecylinder 36 about an upright axis.

As mentioned, the block 40 is mounted on an upright pivot 43. Forrocking the assemblage, a reversible hydraulic piston and cylinderassemblage is fixedly mounted on the block 35 and extends generallyparallel to the axis of the assemblage 36. The assemblage 50 includes acylinder 51, a piston 52 with a piston rod 53, on the outer end of whichis a pin 54. The plate 44 has an ear 55. The car 55 and plate 40 havealigned elongated radial slots 57 and 58, respectively, which provide aScotch yoke connection with the pin 54. Thus upon reciprocation of thepiston 51, the piston and cylinder assemblage 36' can be rocked aboutthe axis of the pivot 43. Usually, provision is made for rockingmovement of about 20 at each side of the axisof the arm 30. Theassemblage 50 can be locked hydraulically, if desired, in anypreselected position between the limits of the 40 arc.

Fixedly secured on the arm 30 is a frame 60 which extends laterally ofthe arm 30 beyond the lateral limits thereof.

At each of its lateral limits, the frame 60 has downwardly dependingportions 61 which extend alongside opposite faces of the block 40 inspaced relation thereto. At the lower end, each of the portions 61carries a suitable roller 62. A suitable peripherally open trackway 63is provided in the support 2 and is coaxial with the pivot post 5. Therollers 62 engage in the trackway 63 and thus resist, by engagement withthe trackway, any forces tending to move the roller vertically. Thisprovides a hold-down for the outer end of the arm 30 and prevents upwarddeflection of the cylinder 36 by reaction forces created by theengagement of the wipe forming shoe with the side face of the die underthe action of the piston 37 and shoe 39.

The spacing of the rollers 62, circumferentially of the track, gives thenecessary support to arm 30 to resist torsional flexure imparted to thearm by the drag of the wipe shoe on the part being formed and resultantforce imposed when the wipe shoe assemblage is swivelled its maximum 20to one side or the other of its normal position.

In order to reciprocate the arm 30 by swinging it about its pivot 33, asuitable sprocket 65 is fixedly secured on the arm 30 and is engaged bya suitable chain 66, the ends of which are connected to piston rods 67of the pistons 68 of a pair of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblages69 to the rod ends of which pressure is supplied under the control ofthe operator for reciprocating the pistons as desired.

Mounted on the frame 1 is a suitable pump 71 driven by a motor 72 andconnected through conventional valving arrangements to the cylinders ofthe wipe arm actuating assemblies 69. An additional pump 73, driven by amotor 74, is connected through a conventional valving arrangement to thetension piston and cylinder assemblages 18. Still another pump 75 andmotor 76 are mounted on the frame and are connected by conventionalvalving arrangements to the arm actuating piston and cylinderassemblages 10.

With the arrangement of conventional valving and the circuit illustratedin FIGS. 6 and 7, the arms 3 can be swung individually or in unison intimed relation, at constant and variable speeds, selectively. Thecontrol is simplified because, by virtue of the racks and pinions, theincrement of movement of each piston 12 in its cylinder 11 results in acorresponding increment of angular movement of the arm 3, and this fixedrelation between the increments of movement of the piston and those ofthe arm remain uniform throughout the swinging operation of the arm 3.Therefore, by maintaining a uniform rate of extension or retraction ofthe pistons, a uniform angular rate of swing of the arms can beobtained. This has decided advantages when controlling the operationscarefully in the stretch forming.

As examples of hydraulic circuits for the machine, reference is made toFIGS. 6 and 7.

For operating the wipe shoe assemblage 36 and wipe shoe swivellingassemblage 50, a pump 78 is provided and is driven by the motor 72.

The gripper jaws of the heads 22 are operated by reversible piston andcylinder assemblages 79, supplied by a pump 80 driven by the motor 74.

For rotating the wipe arm 30, pressure fluid is supplied by the pump 71through a line 81 to a double-acting directional valve 82, a reliefvalve 83 being connected to the line 81 between the pump and valve 82for limiting the pressure. A suitable gauge 84 is connected to the line81 through a needle fluid control valve 85.

The double-acting directional valve 82 includes a main valve 82a havinga plug 82b operated by hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblages 86 todifferent positions, in one of which it connects the rod end of oneassemblage 69 to the pump by a line 87, and the rod end of the otherassemblage 69 to a sump by a line 88. The head ends of both assemblages69 are continuously connected to the sump.

In a second position of the plug 82b, it reverses all of theseconnections.

In a third position, it blocks the lines 87 and 88, thus hydraulicallylocking the assemblages 69 and holding. the arm 30 in fixed position.

For remote control, the assemblage 86 may be operated by hydraulic fluidcontrolled by a valve 89 operated by solenoids 90.

The lines 37 and 88 have interposed therein, between the main valve 84and associated assemblage 69, flow control valves 91 and 92 with checkvalves 93 and 94 in bypassing relation thereto, respectively, operativeto permit the flow of fluid to the assemblages 69 and blocks its returnthrough the valves 93 and 94.

For operating the main wipe forming assemblage 36, pressure fluid fromthe pump 78 is fed through a line 95 to a double action valve 96 to thecylinder of the assemblage 36. The valve 96 is operable to reverse theflow to the cylinder and hydraulically lock the piston, depending uponits setting. The valve 96 is set by hydraulic control piston andcylinder assemblages 97 controlled by a solenoid operated valve 93operated by remotely controlled solenoids 99. A pressure reducing valve100 is interposed in the line 95 between the pump 78 and valve 96.

Between the reducing valve 100 and pump 78, a double action solenoidoperated relief valve 101 is connected to the line 95.

Connected to the line 95, between the valve 101 and the valve 106, is asequence valve 102 through which pressure fluid is supplied to a controlvalve 103 for the wipe shoe swivelling assemblage 50. The valve 103 isoperated by control piston and cylinder assemblages 104 which, in turn,are controlled by a remotely controlled solenoid operated double actiondirectional valve 185. The valve 103 is operable to supply pressure toone side of the piston of the assemblage 50 and vent the other side,concurrently, and to reverse the connections.

Pressure fluid is supplied by the pump 75, through a line 108 and itsbranches 108a and 1081'), to the piston and cylinder assemblages forswinging the stretching arms 3 and 4. Between the pump 75 and thebranches 108a and 10812 is a solenoid operated relief valve 109 and apressure gauge 110, the flow to which is controlled by a needle valve111.

Lines 108a and 10815 are connected to double acting directional controlvalves 112 and 113 which supply flui to the assemblages 10,respectively, for advancing and retracting the pistons.

The valves 112 and 113 are operated by control piston and cylinderassemblages 114 and 115, respectively, and the assemblages 114 and 115are controlled, in turn, by solenoid operated, remotely controlledvalves 116 and 117, respectively. Flow control valves 118 and 119 areconnected in the branches 108a and 108b, respectively, between thecontrol valves and assemblages 10.

The tension assemblages 18 are supplied by the pump 73 through a line120, double acting directional valves 121 and 122, respectively,operated by control piston and cylinder assemblages 123, and 124,respectively, which are controlled, in turn, by a remotely controlled,solenoid operated valve 125 and 126, respectively.

A pressure relief valve 127, controlled by an electric motor 128 and arelief valve 129, controlled by a 1'61 motely controlled, solenoidoperated valve 130, is connected to the line 120. This arrangementcontrols the stretch forming assemblages.

The pump 80 is connected to a line 132 to solenoid operated, doubleacting, directional valves 133 and 134 which are connected to andcontrol the piston and cylinder assemblages 79 for actuating the gripperjaws of 5 the stretch forming heads 22.

A pressure relief valve 135 and pressure gauge 136 are connected to theline 132 between the pump 80 and valves 133 and 134.

If remote control of the assemblage '28 is desired, it

6 may be controlled by a circuit such as used for the assemblages 18.

The specific control means, including the hydraulic circuits, valves,and the like, may be conventional. 5 Having thus described my invention,I claim:

1. In a metal forming machine, a frame, a die support non-rotatablymounted thereon, a die in fixed position on the support, a pair of arms,each of said arms being pivoted at one end for swinging about a commonpivotal 10 axis relative to the frame and die support and to each other,power means respective to the arms, each power means being operable forcausing its associated arm to swing in opposite directions about saidcommon axis independently of, and concurrently with, the other arm,

selectively, metal forming assemblages on the arms, respectively, forlaying a length of stock progressively endwise of the stock on the dieface upon swinging of the arms relatively away from each other andrelative to the die and die support, a third arm pivotally connected atone of its ends to the frame for swinging relative to the frame, die,and die support about said common pivotal axis of said pair of arms,additional power means to swing said third arm independently of the armsof said pair, and a wipe forming assemblage on the third arm operable towipe form stock against the side face of the die supported on saidsupport during swinging of the third arm.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the die support has anupwardly facing horizontal die supporting surface, the third arm and itspivotal connection with the frame are in spaced relation above, and inoverhanging relation to, the said surface.

3. The structure according to claim 2 including additionally flexurerestraining means on the third arm and connected to the frame at alocation below the level of the die supporting surface and closelyadjacent to said surface.

4. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the arms of said pair arepivotally connected to the frame at a level below the die supportingsurface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,431,173 Hawkes Nov. 18, 1947 2,515,734 Rathgen July 18, 1950 2,515,752VVeightman July 18, 1950 2,759,513 Green Aug. 21, 1956 2,810,421 DolneyOct. 22, 1957 0 2,816,593 Hein et a1. Dec. 17, 1957 2,920,676 TurnbladeJan. 12, 1960 OTHER REFERENCES Hufiord Machine Works, pages 12 and 13,1950 ed.; book entitled Principles of Stretch-Wrap Forming. (Copy inDivision 153.)

